Newtownstewart: Alleged kidnap victim told 'head would be cut off'

An alleged kidnap victim was shown a saw and told his head would be cut off, a court has heard.

Four men have appeared in court after a man was found injured in the Douglas Bridge area of Strabane on Monday.

The accused include Cahill Maguire, 26, and Emmet Maguire, 23, from Davis Crescent, Newtownstewart.

The others are Aaron McNulty, 25, from Davis Road in Newtownstewart, and Brendan Thomas Liam McShane, 29, from Garag Hill, Castlederg.

They are jointly charged with kidnapping a man on 10 October, unlawfully and maliciously causing him grievous bodily harm.

The men are also accused of causing damage to the windows of the victim's home.

Emmet Maguire has additionally been charged with failing to stop for police, dangerous driving and possession of cannabis.

'Burned the victim'

The accused appeared at Dungannon Magistrates' Court by video-link from police custody.

A police officer told the court the victim was awakened by people breaking into his home and when he tried blocking the bedroom door, he was overcome by the men who were armed with hurling sticks.

He was then dragged from his home and forced into the rear of a van. He was then driven around various locations and struck numerous times.

On one occasion, the man was taken from the van and was kicked, punched and beaten with weapons.

The accused then returned him to the van where he was shown a saw and told "his head would be cut off".

The men allegedly burned the victim with cigarettes and cut his back and chest.

The victim was left badly injured in a location unknown to him before a passer-by called an ambulance.

He was later treated in hospital for a number of injuries, including fractures to his spine and ribs and cuts above his eye.

'Bloodied clothing'

Details of the suspected van were circulated and police initially spotted it in Strabane, where it refused to stop.

A police helicopter was deployed, which spotted the van in Hillsborough.

The driver Emmet Maguire fled the car and was found hiding in a hedge.

The court also heard a witness has identified the four men entering one of their homes in bloodied clothing before re-emerging in different clothes a short time later.

The four men were refused bail by District Judge Michael Ranaghan due to the risk of reoffending and potential witness interference.

They were remanded in custody to appear again in court on 27 October.